Perhaps you have swayed back and forth as you consider the right time to quit cigarettes, but we are here to tell you that there is no “right time.” The only time to snuff out your little stick of death and quit is right now, at this very moment, and this grim reality sinks in once you consider the life-threatening consequences of long-term smoking. Even if people with a penchant for cigarettes never contract cancer, these men and women are still prone to severe breathing problems and have diminished senses of taste and smell. Needless to say, smoking stinks in more ways than one. Here are some disturbing facts about cigarettes.
Making the Choice Now
Before you stop quitting cigarettes cold turkey, you need to build your education about the process of nicotine withdrawal and the short-term and long-term consequences of inactivity. Remember that knowledge is power. The more you know about a sickness you are suffering from, the healthier you can become in the future. Nicotine addiction can be fought successfully.
Grim Reality of Smoking
If nothing else convinces you to quit smoking, consider these grim factors:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 1.1 billion smokers live around the world, and that number is expected to skyrocket to 1.6 billion by 2025.
- 6 million people die from tobacco consumption on a yearly basis.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that 37.8 million smokers lived in the U.S. in 2016.
- More than 16 million Americans are suffering from tobacco-related diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).
- At least 21.8% of adults live in each of these eight states: Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
- Each year, over 480,000 Americans die from smoking-related complications.
- Smoking shaves 13 years off the life of a healthy individual (16 years for HIV patients).
- China is the home of a staggering 300 million smokers, who consume smoke at an annual rate of 1.7 trillion cigarettes (about 3 million cigarettes every minute).
Seeking Treatment for Cigarette Use
Remember that addiction can be triggered by one shot of alcohol or a single puff of a cigarette, but the true danger of this sickness is that you cannot fully determine how much you have to consume before your mind forms an attachment. Social smoking is just as dangerous as chronic smoking, on many levels, but you do not have to smoke to have a good time. Remember, drugs cannot determine if you have fun and do not have control over your life.
If you are suffering from a severe case of drug abuse or addiction, or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of alcohol withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.